Life with fibromyalgia can feel like a roller-coaster ride of pain and suffering—and you would do almost anything to get off the ride and feel like yourself again. Thankfully, there are ways to find all-natural relief for fibromyalgia symptoms. Learn more about these therapeutic mind-and-body practices, and prepare to reclaim your health and well-being. Mindfulness Meditation Mindfulness is the process of focusing your attention on experiences in the present moment—a discipline that can be developed through the practice of meditation. Through this practice, you will learn to pause and respond rather than reacting without thinking. Research reveals that mindfulness meditation can significantly reduce stress and sleep disturbance, and that more frequent practice is associated with a greater reduction in fibromyalgia symptoms. Acupuncture Living with fibromyalgia has likely conditioned you to avoid pain wherever possible, particularly anything involving needles. But acupuncture—a technique involving the insertion of very fine needles into strategic points on the body—could be worth pursuing. After all, acupuncture may provide significant improvement of fibromyalgia symptoms, including relief from pain, anxiety, and fatigue. Biofeedback Biofeedback is a technique in which you’re connected to electrical sensors that help you receive information (feedback) about your body (bio). This information can empower you to use your thoughts to control your body and achieve the results you desire. And the results are promising: Electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback, in which patients learn to control and decrease muscle tension, has led to reduced pain and improved sleep for people with fibromyalgia. Massage Therapy In addition to fostering rest and relaxation, most styles of massage therapy also consistently improve the quality of life for people living with fibromyalgia. In particular, myofascial release, which involves applying gentle, sustained pressure to myofascial tissue, can reduce pain, depression, and anxiety. Shiatsu, in which manual pressure is applied to specific points of the body, may also relieve pain and improve sleep. Meditative Movement Meditative movement therapies—particularly tai chi, qigong, and yoga—consist of various physical poses, with a focus on breathing, meditation, and relaxation. Since people with fibromyalgia stand to benefit from physical activity as well as meditation, these complementary therapies can be especially advantageous. Meditative movement has been shown to reduce sleep disturbances, fatigue, and depression, with yoga yielding particularly significant effects on pain and health-related quality of life. Hydrotherapy Hydrotherapy involves the use of water to provide pain relief and treat a variety of conditions, including fibromyalgia. Soaking in the spa is an especially soothing way to reap the benefits of hydrotherapy, as the warm, bubbly water fosters optimal stress relief and relaxation. In fact, there is strong evidence for the effectiveness of hydrotherapy in the management of fibromyalgia, with particular improvements in pain relief. With so many complementary health procedures available, there is hope for a bright future for those living with fibromyalgia. Talk with your doctor to learn which all-natural therapies might work best for you. Are you considering hydrotherapy for fibromyalgia relief? Find your Sundance® spa here.